{"title":"Ben Kite","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"through-adversity-book-ben-kite-9781804513835","title":"Through Adversity","description":"Through Adversity is a unique book that provides a comprehensive account of Britain and the Commonwealth's war in the air during the Second World War. It combines detailed studies into the tactics, techniques and technology, together with the personal accounts of the aircrew themselves as they executed some of the most hazardous operations of the war. Through Adversity is exceptional in the breadth of the war it covers. Twenty-five separate chapters explain all aspects of the air war ranging from subjects such as the air defense of Britain to anti-shipping strikes in the Mediterranean or close air support missions in Burma. Even some of the rarer elements of British air power are given an appropriate place in this book. Through Adversity has a global and cosmopolitan feel to it. It includes exciting and thought-provoking accounts from not only RAF personnel, but also those of the RAF, RNZAF, RCAF, SAF, The Fleet Air Arm, as well as Poles, Frenchmen and other personnel from occupied countries. It is exceptionally well Illustrated with over 150 photographs and diagrams, many never published before, as well as over 15 maps and diagrams. 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It combines detailed studies into the tactics, techniques and technology, together with the personal accounts of the aircrew themselves as they executed some of the most hazardous operations of the war.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThrough Adversity is exceptional in the breadth of the war it covers. Twenty-five separate chapters explain all aspects of the air war ranging from subjects such as the air defense of Britain to anti-shipping strikes in the Mediterranean or close air support missions in Burma. Even some of the rarer elements of British air power are given an appropriate place in this book.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThrough Adversity has a global and cosmopolitan feel to it. It includes exciting and thought-provoking accounts from not only RAF personnel, but also those of the RAF, RNZAF, RCAF, SAF, The Fleet Air Arm, as well as Poles, Frenchmen and other personnel from occupied countries.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is exceptionally well illustrated with over 150 photographs and diagrams, many never published before, as well as over 15 maps and diagrams. 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It combines detailed studies into the tactics, techniques and technology, together with the personal accounts of the aircrew themselves, as they executed some of the most hazardous operations of the war. The first volume \u003ci\u003eThrough Adversity\u003c\/i\u003e covered how the British achieved air superiority, conducted bomber operations and supported maritime operations.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Undaunted' is the second and final volume of the series. It begins by explaining how Air Intelligence functioned and how the British used signals intelligence, interrogation and air photographic reconnaissance to develop a sophisticated understanding of the enemy. It continues by investigating the work of the Special Duties squadrons, explaining how they maintained contact and supported resistance and intelligence organisations in occupied countries in Europe and the Far East. The second volume's major focus is on the support provided to Ground Forces, relating the compelling story of how a disaster in France in 1940, forced a conceptual and organisational redesign of how Britain executed ground support operations. This pioneering work began in the Western Desert, reached maturity in Italy and was then used with devastating effect in NW Europe and the Far East. 'Undaunted' also covers the role British Commonwealth Air Forces played in air transportation. Examining the techniques of parachute and glider borne operations in Europe, as well as the decisive part air transport played in the Far East, particularly Burma where it became a hallmark of the Fourteenth Army's operational design.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLike its predecessor, 'Undaunted' continues to balance explanations of the tactics, techniques and equipment used by the British with veteran's anecdotes, which bring the human dimension of the air war to life. The final four chapters in particular cover the experiences of the 'Guinea Pigs' burns victims, airmen downed in the sea, those escaping and evading and most poignantly of all the Prisoner of War Experience.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Undaunted' reflects the global and cosmopolitan nature of the British Commonwealth's wartime operations. It includes exciting and thought-provoking accounts from not only RAF personnel, but also those of the RAAF, RNZAF, RCAF, SAAF, The Fleet Air Arm, as well as Poles, Frenchmen and other personnel from occupied countries.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is exceptionally well Illustrated with over 150 photographs and diagrams, many never published before, as well as over 15 maps and diagrams. 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This fresh study explores the anatomy of war through the Army's operations in the summer of 1944, informing and entertaining the general non-fiction reader as well as students of military history. There have been so many books written on Normandy that the publication of another one might appear superfluous. However most books have focused on narrating the conduct of the battle, describing the factors that influenced its outcome, or debating the relative merits of the armies and their generals. What was missing from the existing body of work on Normandy specifically and the Second World War generally is a book that explains how an army actually operates in war and what it was like for those involved, Stout Hearts fills this gap. Stout Hearts is essential reading for those who wish to understand the 'mechanics' of battle. How does an Army care for its wounded? How do combat engineers cross obstacles? How do tanks fight? How do Air and Naval Forces support the Army? But to understand what makes an Army 'tick' you must also understand its people. Therefore explanations of tactics and techniques are not only well illustrated with excellent photographs and high quality maps but also effectively combined with relevant accounts from the combatants themselves. These dramatic stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things are the strength of the book, bringing the campaign to life and entertaining the reader.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50296151769361,"sku":"GOR007903642","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":51211518411025,"sku":"NGR9781911096184","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1911096184.jpg?v=1751631757"},{"product_id":"undaunted-book-ben-kite-9781804513873","title":"Undaunted","description":"Undaunted is the second volume of Britain and the Commonwealth's War in the Air 1939-45. It combines detailed studies into the tactics, techniques and technology that made British air power so effective, together with the personal accounts of the aircrew themselves. 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Exceptionally well-illustrated with over 150 photographs and 15 maps and diagrams, this book will undoubtedly appeal to the general reader, as well as the aficionado, who will find considerable new information.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ -","offer_id":50460004450577,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":50460005073169,"sku":"NGR9781804513873","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1804513873.jpg?v=1751630094"},{"product_id":"stout-hearts-book-ben-kite-9781909982550","title":"Stout Hearts","description":"Stout Hearts is a book which offers an entirely new perspective on the British Army in Normandy. This fresh study explores the anatomy of war through the Army's operations in the summer of 1944, informing and entertaining the general non-fiction reader as well as students of military history. 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